Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed is a man who wears many caps: he is the Pakistan Senate foreign relations committee chairman, the secretary-general of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League, and widely regarded as Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's right-hand man. A former editor of a major national daily, Hussain knows a thing or two about the unrest in Balochistan. It was a parliamentary committee headed by him that had recommended that the government grant autonomy to the Balochis, and ensure their province wasn't forgotten in the rapid economic development of Pakistan.
Mariana Baabar met Hussain at his residence in Islamabad's upscale E-sector.
Mariana Baabar met Hussain at his residence in Islamabad's upscale E-sector.
Though the joke here is that the E is for Extremely Rich, Hussain's own home is modest.
His phone keeps ringing as he takes calls from politicians of all ideological hues. Between calls, he talks about the Great Game India's playing inside Afghanistan and its possibility of destabilising the region. Excerpts:
Why should Pakistan complain about India
having several consulates in Afghanistan? They are two sovereign states.
Are you alleging that the Indian Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) is involved?
Are you then saying that RAW has managed a strong presence inside Afghanistan after the ouster of the Taliban?
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Has India revived its links with the leaders of the erstwhile Northern Alliance who are in power in Afghanistan today?
Are allegations of India placing troops in Afghanistan correct?
Is the Afghan state helping India in these operations?
